Trestles



July 5, 1960 Y J. L. BONANNO TRESTLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR J'wz-fl/ z. Bo/m/wva BY 4 15". I ATTO 1 Filed Oct. 31, 1956 2,943,793 Patented July 5, 1960 Uni tates Patent" 2,943,793 TRESTLES Filed Oct. 31, 1956, Set. Nd. 619,610 I 8 Claims. Cl. 238-10 This invention relates to trestles and more specifically to an improved trestle useful among other things, for toy railroads and including improved means for securing the track. or other road bed to the trestle to form a substantially unitary structure.

One object of the invention resides in the-provision of a novel and improvedtrestle for model railroads and other purposes characterized by its simplicity, elfectiveness, versatility and relatively low cost. Through an improved arrangement of elements the trestle in accordance with the invention may be simply and easily extended to form elevated, curved or straight sections of any desired length with sloping approaches at each end. If desired, the trestle may be arranged to provide support for a track or road bed crossing a simulated ravine.

Anotherobject of the invention resides in the provision of a novel and improved trestle pier or bent for supporting model railroad tracks that may be relatively quickly and easily fabricated and affords a high degree of realism and play value.

. Still another object of the invention is a novel and improved trestle for model railroads and an improved fastener cooperating with the trestle elements for firmly and securely fastening the tracks to the trestle.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of an improved trestle and trestle bents for model railroad track. a

The above and other objects and. advantages will become more apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings forming part of this application.

In the drawings:

Fig. '1 is a side elevational view of a trestle in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is across sectional view of the first and last bents of the trestle of Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 through 12 are fragmentary side elevational views of the trestle bents for successively elevating the tracks on the trestle shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 13 is a side elevational view of a trestle bent of the type used to form the central, horizontal portion of the trestle of Fig. *1;

1 Figs. 14 through 23 are fragmentary, cross sectional views of Figs. 2 through 1d taken along the lines 14--14 through 23Q3, respectively;

Fig. 24 is a fragmentary, cross sectional view of Fig. 12 taken along the line 24-24 thereof, with one form of model railroad track secured thereto;

Fig. 25 is a fragmentary, cross sectional view of Fig. 13 taken along the line 25-25 thereof with a modified form of track secured thereto;

I Fig.'26 is a perspective view of a portion of a trestle bent in accordance with the invention and a cooperating nut for insertion therein;

Fig. 27 is a perspective view of a trestle bent and track secured thereto similar to that shown in Fig.24; and

Fig. 28 is a perspective view of the trestle bent of Fig. 27 with a modified form of track in position thereon.

It is evident fromthe figures, and particularly Fig. 1, that the trestle in accordance with the invention includes a number of graduated piers or bents for elevating the track to provide two inclined approaches and one or more bents of uniform height forming the central section. For convenience the graduated piers or bents are denoted by the letters A through L with A being the highest and forming the central trestle section and L the lowest. In Fig. 1, the trestle is shown with a horizontal central section formed of four central piers A, though it is apparent that any number of piers A may be employed. The track 10, supported by the piers, is preferably in the form of conventional model railroad track arranged in engageable or connectible sections and a pier is placed at each successive track joinder to provide As will beshown, the

firm support for track sections. ends of adjoining and coupled track sections are secured to each pier to prevent shifting of the track relative thereto and at the same time hold the track sections in engagement one with the other.

Referring to Figs. 2 through 25 showing the several graduated piers, it will be observed'that the lowest pier or bent L, as shown in Figs. 2 and 14, is in the form of a substantially flat plate-like member having a pair of track mounting holes 11 and a top surface 12 that slopes downwardly and outwardly on each side of the longitudinal center line, as will be observed more clearly in Fig. 14..

The remaining pier sections A to K are generally of the same configuration except for height. In actual practice it has been found desirable to provide a smaller rate of change of height of the roadbed from ground level through piers L and K, somewhat greater rate of changefrom pier I to pier D, and a reduced rate of change from pier C to pier A. Thus on the approach to the trestle the train is not subjected to sharp differences in track grade and at the same time maximum track elevation can be attained within minimum distance consistent with the available power of model railroad equipment.

More specifically, veach of the pier sections A through K is made to simulate a fabricated steel pier and includes porting member 13 and include cutouts '16 for fastening the piers to a table top or other surface upon which the tracks are being laid. The bents or piers I through A each include leg portions 17 preferably formed integrally with the track supporting and base members 13 and. 15, respectively.

The top surface 12 of each of the bents K through A in Figs. 3 through 13 and 15 through 25, is preferably in the form of a shallow, inverted V to afford added support for the track sections and will be described in connection with Figs. 24 through 28 showing the attachment of the track sections to the piers.

Referring now to Figs. 24, 26 and 27 showing the at.- tachment of track sections to the piers, the adjoining track sections 10 of conventional two or three rail track are first connected in the usual manner. An elongated T-nut 20 having a central threaded boss 21 is inserted in each of the channels 14. The tracks 10 are then placed on the track supporting member.13 forming part of the pier with the inverted channel-like ties 22 resting on the sloping portions23 of the top surface 12.

0 openings 26 in alignment with the bosses 21 of the with the openings in the bosses 21. The screws 28 need only be tightened sufficiently to hold the track ties snugly against the bent and the resilient action of the clip 24 will hold it in place. Moreover, inasmuch asthe track ties' 22 are disposed on each side of the central. ridge formed by the sloping bent surfaces 23, the tracks cannot shift transversely-of the bent. At the same time the T-nut moves upwardly when.screw 28 is tightened to bring the flanged sides 20' into engagement with the undercut portions of the channels 14 whichfurther .prevents lateral displacement of the tracks relative to the bent.

The attachment of a modified form of track to the bents as described above is shown in Figs. and 28. In these figures the track ties 29, while in the shape of inverted channels, have outwardly curved parts 30. In this case, the T-nut 20 is placed in the channels 14 in the same manner as previously described, and the coupled track sections 10 are placed thereon. Octagonally shaped clamps 31 having two sets of depending flanges 32 and 33 are placed with the flanges 3232 in engagement with the curved tie portions as shown in Fig. 25, and a screw 34 is inserted through the opening 35 in the clip 31 and threaded into the T-nut 20.

The installation of the pier L differs slightly from the other bents in that wood screws or other fasteners are inserted through the clip 24 or '31, as the case may be, the openings 11 in the bent L and attached directly to a table top or other track supporting surface.

It will be observed that with both forms of connectors the joined track sections 10 are not only secured to the trestle bents, but are also secured one to the other to prevent disengagement. Furthermore, the several bents or piers may be used in any suitable manner for elevating the tracks, crossing simulated ravines, bridging other sets of tracks, simulated waterways and the like.

While only'certain embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it is apparent that other modifications, alterations and changes have been made without departing from the true scope and spirit thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A trestle for model railroad track having connectable sections with channel-like ties at the end of each section comprising a plurality of piers each having at least one transverse channel thereon, and track section fastening means carried by said transverse channel to fasten track sections having ties to said piers with the ends of the track sections abutting on said piers, and said fastening means including means extending over ties of adjacent track sections and held downwardly thereon to engage said ties to hold the track sections to said piers.

2. A trestle according to claim 1 wherein the track sections to be fastened to said piers are in connectable sections with channel-like ties at the ends of each section and said fastening means are adapted to engage the adjacent ties of the connected track sections. a

3. A trestle pier for supporting connectable sections of railroad model track comprising a track section supporting member having a longitudinally ridged upper surface with the portions of the surface on each side of the ridge adapted to receive and support the track sections, and track section fastening means movably positionable in the upper surface of said member for fixedly securing the track section thereto, said fastening means comprising a threaded member mounted on said pier, a clip engaging said track tie members, and threaded member connecting said clip and said screw means.

4. A trestle pier for supporting connectable sections of railroad model track comprising a track section supporting member having a longitudinally ridged upper surface with the portions of the surface on each side of the ridge adapted to receive and support the track sections, and track section fastening means movably positionable in the upper surface of said member for fixedly securing the track sections thereto, said fastening means comprising at least one elongated T-shaped nut slidably engaging said pier, a track tie engaging clip and screw means coupling said clip and said nut.

5. A trestle for railroad model track comprising a plurality of piers each having at least one transverse channel thereon, track section fastening means carriedby said transfer channels to fasten track sections having ties to said piers, said track sections being in connectable sections with channel-like ties at the ends of each section, said fastening means being'adapted to engage the adjacent ties of the connected track sections and including T-shaped members, and clip means joined thereto by a screw extending through the clip means and threadably engaging a portion of said T-shaped member.

6. A trestle for model railroad track comprising a plurality of piers each having at least one transverse channel thereon, and track section fastening means carried by said transverse channels to fasten track sections having ties to said piers, said track sections to be fastened to said piers being in connectable sections with channel-like ties at the ends of each section, said fastening means adapted to engage outwardly formed flanges on the adjoining track ties, said fastening means having a portion within said channel in the form of a T-shaped nut, and clip means being joined by screws extending through the clip means and threadably engaging said nut.

7. A trestle pier for model railroad track including track sections having end cross ties comprising a track section supporting pier adapted to be disposed transversely to said track and having at least one channel in the top thereof and track section fastening means positionable in said channel and spanning said cross ties of adjacent track sections, said fastening means including a threaded member positioned in said channel and screw means connecting said abutting end cross ties to said threaded member.

8. A trestle pier for model railroad track including track sections having end cross ties comprising a track section supporting pier adapted to be disposed transversely to said track and having at least two substantially parallel spaced channels in the top thereof, and track section fastening means positionable in said channels and spanning said cross ties of adjacent track sections, said fastening means including a threaded member positioned in said channels and screw means connecting said abutting end cross ties toysaid threaded member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 89,948 Smith May 11, 1869 1,544,555 Chase July 7, 1925 1,583,968 Fishbach May 11, 1926 1,590,071 Becker June 22, 1926 1,700,263 Hewitt Jan. 29, 1929 1,828,536 Koerber Oct. 20, 1931 2,161,276 Bonnett June 6, 1939 2,536,487 Bonanno Ian. 2, 1951 2,656,115 Sonneville Oct. 20, 1953 2,725,668 Bonanno Dec. 6, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 920,655 France Jan. 4, 1947 953,624 France May 23, 1949 340,014 Great Britain Dec, 15, 1930 

